the girl who obsessively loves everything.

Tag: Kiera Cass

HAPPY OCTOBER, EVERYONE! Ok, so I’m not sure if you’d figured this out yet, but holy crap I love October. I’m so excited it’s here & cannot wait for Halloween (except that whole “I really need to start working on my costume” thing). Anyway, I’m feeling refreshed and totally energized by the prospect of a new month and a new season, and my trip to the salon a couple weeks ago definitely helped things, as well! Clearly, I’m feeling like rambling because of all the excitement. I haven’t had that much caffeine yet today, I swear!

Today I wanted to talk about revisiting/re-reading books. I’ve only read a handful of books more than once (children’s books excluded), and I was thinking this morning – since I just finished re-reading Heir of Fire & have moved on to re-read Queen of Shadows – about which books I have chosen to devote more of my time to than others, and why.

Similarly to re-watching movies over and over again, re-reading a book gives you new insight to the story. You pick up on things you didn’t notice the first time around and you put the pieces together in the way the author intended, rather than the way your brain decides to piece it all together before the author comes out & explains it (did that even make sense?). Let me try again: I love using an author’s foreshadowing & tiny clues to try and figure out the twists and secrets before they are revealed later in the story. At the same time, by doing that, I miss out on just experiencing the story and taking time to really connect with the characters. On a second (or third, or fourth) read-through, you know where the story is going & you can just marvel at the way the author brings the narrative together.

The obvious difference between re-watching a film and re-reading a book, though, is time commitment. I’m not a very fast reader, so reading a book multiple times really is a commitment & takes away from the time I could spend reading new books (and putting the tiniest of dents into my To Be Read list, you feel?). So, what makes a book re-readable for me, personally?

FEELS. This is the primary reason I will re-read a book. If it makes me feel strongly – any emotion, really, but just resonates on an emotional level? It’s definitely worth reading again. This is basically the first criteria for whether or not I’ll take the time to revisit a book. If I didn’t feel anything for it, why bother, right?

BEAUTY. I am a sucker for poignant books with beautiful language or beautiful settings. I have read The Great Gatsby more times than any other book (I think I’m sitting around 5 or 6) because it is just so beautiful to me. Tragic, of course. But beautiful. I’m certain that as my experience with classic novels grows, there will be a few more that I add to this list. I’ve also re-read the book The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant three times since the first time I read it. That book is like soul food for anyone obsessed with Renaissance-era art history.

SEQUELS. So series are a huge thing right now, obviously. Seems like every book you pick up these days is part of some series or another, and finding stand-alone novels can really be a daunting task. What about that feeling when you finish a book that you didn’t KNOW was in a series and then you have to wait a year (or more) for the next installment? That might be one of the worst feelings. By the time that next book is released, you’ve likely forgotten some of the key points of its predecessor, and a re-read would help pull you back into the world and better understand what is happening in your new book.

ADAPTATIONS. This is one I haven’t really experienced yet, but would definitely qualify as a reason to re-read something. In a time when Film/TV adaptations of best-selling books seem to be the norm, it’s likely that one of your favorite book series is going to be adapted at some point. Now, my previous exprience has just been to read books once the adaptation is already nearing completion, so it’s not a re-read scenario, obviously. But The Selection and Throne of Glass series have both been optioned recently for adaptations, and you can rest assured I will be re-reading if/when those projects reach completion.

NOSTALGIA. There are always those books you read when you are young that stick with you because they resonate on some level or are really integral to developing the person you choose to become. I started a Harry Potter re-read this year for that very reason. It’s a series I love desperately, that had a huge impact on me as a teenager (obviously I’m not alone in this), but I haven’t read the books since Deathly Hallows was released. Another great example of this for me is Ella Enchated by Gail Carson Levine. I adored that book the first time I read it & it may have been the book that really cemented a love of reading in me. I have re-read it a few times over the years, but I’m actually probably due for a another read-through soon.

I mean it when I say I don’t have many books on my re-read shelf. It really takes a hugely emotional connection to a book before I’ll consider spending extra hours on it. Because, why would I when a new favorite could be next on my TBR pile?

Here’s a look at every book I can remember reading more than once. Again, excluding children’s books & beginning at about mid-grade level:

Fun fact:Twilight should technically also be on this list, but I didn’t include it because the only reason I’ve read it more than once is that I completely forgot I had read it the first time. I don’t know if that’s on me or Stephanie Meyer, but apparently it really didn’t resonate that much the first time through.

So, how about you? Do you tend to read books once and move on, or do you re-visit old favorites? How do you choose? I’d love to hear from you!

I couldn’t pass up this opportunity to imagine some of my favorite books as movies/ tv shows, so here’s another Top Ten Tuesday, comin’ at ya.

1. Crewel by Gennifer Albin. This book was really unique & the world-building was just so vivid. I didn’t ADORE the other books in the series, but I think the first would make a really great movie adaptation. There are so many aspects that would be really amazing to see recreated with movie magic.

2. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan. Another REALLY unique universe. I think it’s great that we already have the wonderful visuals of the universe, thanks to Fiona Staples’ breathtaking illustrations, but I’d love to see these characters come to life even further!

3. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, just because it is SO sweet & cute & I really feel for Lara Jean. I think it would make a fun movie that would probably get added to my stack of sick day chick flicks.

4. Blink by Ted Dekker. One of my favorite books when I was in high school – this book is fast-paced with tons of action & a cute little love story beneath the primary plotline. I would love to see how a filmmaker would interpret the experience of Seth’s visions of the future.

5. Circle Series by Ted Dekker. I really love Ted Dekker, and his Circle Series is phenomenal. You get two parallel story lines in two different worlds, and they each make impacts on the other. You barely have time to catch your breath when reading the books – I can only imagine what kind of experience this would be on screen.

6. The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. Ok, I don’t talk about it much, but I effing LOVE historical fiction. None more so than The Birth of Venus. It’s sexy and exciting while paying homage to some of the greatest artists to ever walk the Earth. The costuming alone would be incredible.

Now, some of my favorites are also in the PROCESS of being adapted for the screen. These are the 4 I’m most excited about:

7. Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. Putting Tim Burton at the head of this ship was the best move I could have ever wished for. I ADORE this series & I’m a huge Burton junkie, so this match has me tinkling myself until release day.

8. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. Just finished this & could NOT be more amped for the film. I think Spielberg has this locked down. I mean, who can better emulate the 80’s than someone who had his thumb on the pulse of EVERYTHING as it was happening?

9. The Selection by Kiera Cass. Warner Brothers just won the rights to option this film & I’m so, so hoping that it comes to fruition. The WB has attempted to make pilots for a TV show before, with really negative reception from audiences (yours truly included). I’m praying that IF the film is developed that it is done justice. Maxon + America MUST be done justice as one of my all-time favorite ships.

10. The B.F.G. by Roald Dahl. Another of my all-time favorite books. Spielberg’s got his name on this one, too. And I really think it’s going to be great. I read this thing like 100 times as a kid & can’t wait to reread it before the film release.

Woop, there it is. And I assure you, I am geeking the hell out over those last 4.

Top Ten Tuesdays is brought to us all by The Broke & The Bookish. Check out the link-up for more page-to-screen wishlists today!

It’s time for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish! This week’s list had me stumped for a little while because while I’d LOVE to meet any author of any book I’ve ever read, there are only a small handful of ones I obsess over. However, once I loosened my grip on the definition of “author”, I was able to fill in the remaining gaps. 🙂

JK Rowling. Author of my favorite series & just generally a genius. I’d love to interact with someone who has so much imagination that she can create a world as rich & complete as Harry Potter.

Kiera Cass. My next favorite series – especially after reading The Heir. I would spend most of my time fangirling & begging her to tell me whether the cliffhanger at the end of The Heir turns out OK or not! OMG. Seriously.

Ransom Riggs. The Miss Peregrine books were definitely my favorites I read last year. This is another instance of a rich & wholly complete world that has come from somebody’s imagination & I just want to pick that person’s brain to figure out how you even DO that.

Ernest Cline. Currently reading Ready Player One. I honestly don’t have much experience with Ernest Cline’s work, other than that. But what I’ve read of RP1 has already made me want to meet him. I’m sure we’d have plenty to talk about.

Ted Dekker. Ted Dekker was my favorite author all through high school. Honestly, his books are probably the only reason I SURVIVED high school. His stories are filled with suspense and wars on morality. There are heavy religious undertones (which was fine for a girl who spent 3 nights a week in church) and lessons about persistence and martyrdom. I’m actually re-reading some of his stuff this year & I still enjoy it just as much, even though I’m not nearly as religious as I once was.

Brian K. Vaughan. I’m such a huge fan of Brian K. Vaughan’s body of work. He may not be a “novelist”, but he is sure as hell an author. Between Saga, The Runaways, Y: The Last Man, and his work on things like Buffy Season 8, I’d just want to hang out with him for a day. We’d get some coffee & come up with a new story to tell. On that note…

Joss Whedon. Totally counts. Forget about the controversy right now & just appreciate Joss for Joss. I do. ❤ The only reason he’s so low on the list is because it’d be cheating to put him up high when his primary career is not “author”. But I’d give nearly anything to hang out with him for a day.

Richelle Mead. I’ve only read the Vampire Academy & Bloodlines series, but I’m fully obsessed with them both. I didn’t realize how vast her body of work is until recently when I started looking into other series to dive into. Someone who can produce such a high volume of HIGH QUALITY fiction is definitely someone I want to meet.

George R.R. Martin. I haven’t READ any of the Song of Ice & Fire books. I will someday, but I hate the feeling of waiting for a new release, so without even having a release date, I’m just not willing to get myself in that situation. I’d still like to meet the man behind Westeros, though. And maybe try to kick his ass into gear on cranking out that new book. Haha.

Hannah Hart. My dream BFF. I love everything about her. This was a no-brainer. I’m just glad she wrote a book so I could put her on this list 🙂

Honorable Mention: Veronica Roth. So I can punch her in the face. Not joking. She ruined an entire month for me. Well, ok. I’d at least give her a stern talking-to.

How about you? Any authors you’re just dying to meet? Let me know in the comments!

I LOVE this week’s 5FF. Moms are everything. I’d be completely and utterly lost without mine, so I’m excited to start Mother’s Day Weekend by talking about some of my favorite FICTIONAL mothers!

1. Lorelai Gilmore. Duh. Obviously. Was there any question? Lorelai is almost the exact kind of mother I want to be (if we could just subtract the majority of the unhealthy co-dependence). The relationship she has with Rory is something I think most girls who grew up watching GG were incredibly envious of. An honest relationship where a mother & daughter confide in one another is all I’ve ever wanted for me & kiddo. Hopefully I’m well on my way.+

2. Rosemary Penderghast. Ok, this might seem like an odd choice, but EVERY time I watch Easy A, I am giddy over the relationship between Olive & her mother. I love the snarky banter & the sarcasm, but there’s obviously an abundance of unconditional love. Allowing a child to flourish & make their own mistakes, while still being there to catch them if they fall – that’s the ultimate goal.

3. Molly Weasley. How about this for a change of pace? Molly Weasley is the ULTIMATE mama-bear mother. She is fiercely protective of her children, offers unconditional love, and even acts as a mother to her children’s friends. You know that every single bone in her body is filled with maternal instinct. I think this badass mama is popping up on everyone’s list today – and she deserves to!

4. [Mini-Spoiler?] America Singer. Just finished The Heir, and obviously can’t stop talking about it. I mean my Fangirl mode is set to 11/10 right now. America turned out to be THE BEST MOM. She was always so devoted to her family that I knew she would be, but damn. It’s super good. And that’s all I have to say about that. Which leads me to…

5. Mrs. Gump. I love Forrest Gump. It’s an absolutely timeless movie. And Mrs. Gump is just the sweetest little southern mother. She would (and kind of does) do anything for her son. Never concerning herself over his “disabilities”, but encouraging him to do whatever he wants. Good mama status.

Who are your favorite fictional moms? Leave me a comment or tell me on twitter with the tag #Fandom5!

Remember how I said this book was going to yank me out of my reading slump? Well, it most certainly did. Forcefully, I might add.

It took 2 pages for me to be sucked back into the world of Illea and to fall in love with the new characters. I’m not even gonna bother waiting until the end of this review to share my rating because it’s going to be obvious. Painfully obvious. This is a solid 5-star book for me. If more stars were possible, more stars it would have.

So, if that’s all you came for, there you have it. For anyone else interested, here’s my Ode to The Heir:

Selection books 1-3 spoilers ahead

I’m having such a guttural response to this book. It’s everything the original trilogy was and more. So strong is my emotional connection that I am currently writing this review on my phone, in my car, in the parking lot of the coffee shop where I just read the final page. It simply could not wait.

Intro

We launch into the story by meeting Eadlyn, the 18-year-old daughter of Maxon & America (*swoon*) and heir to the throne of Illea as the firstborn who beat her twin brother, Ahren, out of the womb by 7 minutes. We learn how much Illea has changed since her father began his rule – his first order of business obviously being to eliminate the caste system. We also learn of the unrest among the newest generation of citizens due to the older generations’ inability to move beyond the labels imposed by the abolished castes. There is significant discourse, which really sets us up for this new Selection.

Let’s Talk Characters

Eadlyn is a vastly different character from America, as most young women are from their mothers. She is growing up in the palace and, as such, has led a very different lifestyle than her mother did. Her priorities lie with the entire kingdom, rather than just her loved ones. The weight of that responsibilty weighs on her from the very beginning. I will admit that she is certainly, on some level, spoiled; but I don’t know that I would go so far as to consider labeling her entitled. She has a flair for fashion and she prizes her tiaras more than one might consider acceptable, but she is simply playing the hand she has been dealt – which is a very powerful hand. She has a confident yet reserved attitude when dealing with other people – never really letting anyone in besides her immediate family.

Ahren is the ultimate voice of wisdom to Eadlyn’s constant self-doubt & confusion. He is so easy to adore & Eadlyn does so with every fiber of her being. His ability to be simultaneously gentle & straightforward is a complete godsend to Eady once the Selection actually begins & things start to get complicated.

The Selection boys – I don’t really want to talk about anyone in particular, for fear of spoilers. I do have my favorite ship. And a backup ship. And maybe another after that, but not really. I’m a multi-shipper & I’m ok with it. I will say I love the variety of the contestants. The different motivations they have & their personalities are so vibrant. And having a palace full of boys certainly does make things interesting.

Maxon & America. I can’t. I just can’t. These two are my favorite fictional couple of all time, I think. And they only got more adorable over the fictional 18 years that have passed since the end of The One. They are so wholly devoted to each other and to their children. It’s terribly heartwarming and gives me ALL. OF. THE. FEELS.

Returning characters, for those of you who read the first books: Aspen & Lucy, Marlee & Carter, & May Singer all have supporting roles in this book. That’s all I can specifically remember, at least. I feel like maybe I’m forgetting someone? Either way, it’s nice to catch up with them & see how their lives have also changed since the conclusion of The One.

The Skinny

Ok, so Eady is not into the idea of having a Selection, but is convinced to participate because it will distract the Country from the unrest that is beginning to get out of control. She is incredibly independent and has no desire to find a soulmate at this point in her life, but we all know things like that can change when the opportunity to find love presents itself. She spends a lot of time second-guessing herself, but also doesn’t seem to fully consider the consequences of her actions or the way they will be interpreted by the masses; this makes for some very interesting turns of event throughout the entirety of the book.

Conclusion

This book flew by way too quickly. At the end, I turned the page, saw the acknowledgements, and stopped breathing. I wasn’t ready for it to end. It was so fast-paced and I was never – not once – uninterested in what was going on. Eady’s character development throughout the story is some of the best I’ve ever read over the course of a single novel. The current state of Illea is very realistic, considering what the country has been through over the last few decades. I can’t recommend this book enough. Even if you haven’t read the first 3 books, I believe you could jump in here since the backstories of the other characters aren’t really discussed, just alluded to – more as treats for fans of the original series, I feel. Everyone who loves a good dystopian-ish fairy tale should definitely pick this up. Thank you, Kiera Cass, for not only NOT letting me down, but for exceeding my wildest expectations. I believe this is my favorite of the entire Selection series. Now to count the days until book #5…

One, two, three…

Until Next Time ❤

PS – For fellow fangirls: Did you hear? Kiera Cass announced on her blog that Warner Bros. has won the film rights for The Selection! Who else is excited about the possibility of seeing The Selection come alive on screen? After the CW pilot fiasco, I had essentially come to terms with the fact that it would never happen. Now it still could & I am giddy. Fancast for America? Sophie Turner, of course. She’d be absolute perfection. Oh my god, this is a long PS. BYE!

This week, my obsessions have been slightly less nerdy (although, let’s be real – they’re always at least a *little* nerdy…this is me we’re talking about ) and a bit more girly. I haven’t spent a ton of time talking about my girlish obsessions on here, so I thought I’d share some with you today – you know, make this thing a bit more well-rounded. Or something. Anywho.

BOOKS

Need you even ask? Yes. The Heir was released yesterday & I’m about 7 chapters in. I only had a brief window to spend reading last night, but so far I’m enjoying the story. The world of Illea has changed drastically since the end of The One, which it obviously needed to do. I’m impressed by all the care Kiera Cass has taken with this story. I’m itching to read more.

The Epic Coin Toss

Once I’ve finished The Heir, I’m going to have an epic coin toss to determine what I read next. My contenders are:

Ready Player One vs. Throne of Glass

I know I’m going to love them both, but I just can’t decide where to go & I’ve been waffling over it for like a month now. It’s time to just leave things up to fate. Anybody wanna place bets? 🙂

YOUTUBE

Lauren Bradley Cox. This girl is absolutely adorable & she’s living my hair dreams. I’m going to try out the toners she used to get that perfect white/grey tone to her hair, just as soon as I can get my hands on them. Also, her makeup is super flawless in all of her photos.

TUMBLR

She’s a total sweetheart, super adorable, & posts some of the absolute best bookish eye candy.

Also, I am slacking on my Book Balancing Challenge. I need to get on that. It’s gonna be hilarious, seeing as my ability to even balance myself on my own two feet is oftentimes brought into question.

TV

This season of The Vampire Diaries has been super good, you guys. I’m so in love with what they’ve done for the character development. Everyone is struggling with their own crap & the converging storylines are getting really complex. I love it. I’ve been a TVD fan for years, but last season just really didn’t do much for me. I’m glad things are back on an upswing for Nina Dobrev’s exit from the series.

BEAUTY

BOXYCHARM. Oh. My. God. I’m in love with Boxycharm. I’ve done beauty subscription boxes for about a year now, and I’ve tried Birchbox, Ipsy, and now Boxycharm. I’m so much happier with Boxy than I ever was with Birchbox or Ipsy. I don’t even mind the extra $20 expense because the products are worth SO much more & I actually get enough product in my samples to form a solid opinion on the product, instead of a one-time use thing. Last month, we got the Coastal Scents Revealed2 Palette, which is essentially a dupe for Urban Decay’s Naked 2. I’ve been wanting to order this Revealed palette for a while, ever since I started using Coastal Scents products, so I was FREAKING out when I opened my April box. I also received the Harvey Prince fragrance “Hello”, and I’m in love with it. It’s sweet but still a little floraly, which is right up my alley. Anywho, I could probably do a whole post on how much I love Boxycharm & I think anyone at ALL interested in beauty/ cosmetics should give it a shot for $20/month.

STYLE

This photo shoot of Dascha Polanco for Latina Magazine has me slobbering since I saw the first images yesterday. The hair, the makeup, her body in those outfits. There’s no other way to descibe how I feel about this than: OBSESSED. I haven’t read the interview yet, but I have seen a few quote blocks that people have pulled from it to post with photos & she seems like an incredibly down-to-earth person who has dealt with her fair share of bullshit from life. I’m really interested to read the whole thing.

RANDOM

Buzzfeed. Guys, I can’t stop with the Buzzfeed. I’m not sure when this obsession started, but it’s getting out of hand. It’s probably the reason I didn’t get my 2nd post up yesterday like I promised – I was taking too many Buzzfeed quizzes. That shit’s like a drug. Things like these totally awesome “choose-your-own-adventure” style quizzes about REALLY important topics:

Good morning! Today is your first day as a Pokémon trainer. It’s always been your dream to enter the Pokémon League, defeat the Elite Four, and be a Pokémon Master. And now you finally have the chance!

Spoiler alert: It has been determined by these incredibly scientific exams that I could successfully be a superhero for a day AND become a Pokemon master. I’m gonna rule the freaking world someday. With my level 112 Nidoqueen.

Until Next Time ❤

PS – my big *WOMP WOMP* for the day is that I didn’t prep anything for Flash Fic Wednesday, but that doesn’t mean you can’t check out what other people are writing by following #flashficwed

You guys.

I’m not sure how many of you are aware, but I’ve been in a BEAST of a reading slump. I had every intention of spending my downtime on vacation just devouring books, but that didn’t work out so well.

I’ve been trying for WEEKS to figure out something I can read that would consume me for a few days & re-ignite that reading fire (figuratively speaking, of course. Real fire is super bad for books, y’all), but nothing was clicking. And these were GOOD freaking books I was trying to read – namely, Ready Player One. I just couldn’t do it and the guilt level was off the charts. I know I shouldn’t feel guilty about it, I mean – everyone has reading slumps, right? But it’s really been wearing on me. I feel like a different person when I’m enveloped in a story.

Well, my prayers have been answered with the release of my most highly anticipated book of 2015: The Heir is in hand & I’m trying to convince myself that reading it while at work is an irresponsible thing to do. I can’t wait to start it & I can feel that fog lifting from around me.

Today I’m participating in the Waiting on Wednesday linkup, hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this weekly event, we talk about upcoming releases we are anxiously awaiting! This is my first time participating in the event, but I am holding out for SO many titles this year that I feel like I’m going to burst. So this’ll probably become a regular thing.

The Selection series is quite possibly my favorite YA series since Harry Potter (neck-&-neck with Miss Peregrine right now). I’m not exaggerating. If you like Hunger Games, Cinderella, and the Bachelor, you must read these books. They’re pretty girly, but still have plenty of action. I devoured the first two when I discovered them & anxiously awaited The One, which was meant to conclude the series. I was ECSTATIC when Kiera Cass announced that she had signed another book deal to continue the series in a new generation. I can’t wait to see what the new characters are like & how things have changed in Illéa since the conclusion of The One!

The synopsis of this book kind of contains spoilers for the rest of the series, but here is the synopsis for The Selection for anyone who might be interested!

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself–and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

#introductions

Hi! I'm Christa & I'm obsessed with pretty much everything. I love learning about new things & geeking out over life. I dream of vampires & unicorns. I have a storm trooper tattoo and a reading list that will last me the rest of my life. Also, I can't stop buying makeup. Let's be friends!